This temple is located a mile south of
Karnak Temple. Karnak and Luxor temples
were once joined by an avenue lined with two rows of human-headed
stone sphinxes, guardians of the temple gates and the underworld.
Today, the remains of this avenue can be seen outside the entrance
to Luxor Temple.

The temple stands on the site of a
New Kingdom building commissioned by
Amenhotep III
in approximately 1380 B.C. A hundred years later,
Rameses II
added a great pylon
gateway and an open courtyard. Unlike Karnak Temple, this temple was
not enhanced by later pharaohs.

Since all the temples were built from an original
design dictated by the gods, they have a similar look to them. For this
reason, it is easy to confuse one temple with another.